Picker stick check for looms



. 9, 1941. A. CEDERLUND PIC KER STICK CHECK FOR LOOMS s Sheet-Sheet 1Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 NVENTOR ALBERT CEDERLUND ATTORN EY Dec. 9,1941.

A. CEDERLUND PICKER STICK CHECK FOR LOOMS Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Q 57 E55 5W INVENTOR ALBERT CEDERLUND -ATTORNEY 1941. A.CEDERLUND PICKER STICK CHECK FOR LOOMS Original Filed Jan. 21, 1941 3Sheets-Sheet 3 \NvzNTo, ALBERT CEDERLUND at-.4 'fl ATTORNEY PatentedDec. 9, 1941 2,265,686 PICKER STICK CHECK FOR LOOMS Albert Cederlund,Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester,Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Original application January 21,1941, Serial No. 375,138. Divided and this application May'19, 1941,Serial No. 394,127

8 Claims.

' This is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 375,138,filed January 21, 1941.

This invention relates to improvements in picker stick checks for loomsand it is the general object of the invention to provide a picker stickcheck which is moved to checking position by the picker stick on apicking stroke thereof to be in position to check the shuttle when thelatter next enters the shuttle box. I

The usual picking mechanism employs a picker stick which is given aninward stroke to propel the shuttle from the shuttle box. Immediatelyafter the picking stroke is completed the picker stick will ordinarilymove to its outer position by spring action but may be held slightly inadvance of its outermost position if a picker stick check is used. Manypicker stick checks rely upon springs to move them to checking position,but in the invention set forth hereinafter I provide a link or the likewhich connects the picker stick to the checking arm so that the latterwill be moved positively to checking position by a force derived fromthe picker stick.

It is a further object of my present invention to employ a form of wedgemechanism, such as a screw thread, which acts to increase the frictionalresistance to outward motion of the checking arm under influence of thepicker stick, and to provide adjusting means for varying the amount offriction which can be opposed to the checking arm.

In multi-shuttle looms it is customary to employ a single box at theweft replenishing end and a set of shifting shuttle boxes at theopposite end. It is a further purpose of my present invention to providea type of picker stick check which is usable at both ends of such a loombut wherein the check at the shifting shuttle box end of the loom hasprovision for automatically releasing the checking arm near or at theend of the checking stroke so that the picker stick can have anadditional outward motion. Thisadditional outward motion is to permitthe pick-er to move away from the shuttle when the shuttle boxes shiftwithout causing the shuttle to be moved endwise by the usual cammingaction when the shuttle tip moves out of its pocket in the picker. Thispart of my invention utilizes a pair of links pivoted together, one ofwhich is attached to the checking shoe on the check arm and the other ofwhich is constructed to engage a stop as the checking arm swings on itspivot for the purpose of moving the links from locked to unlockedposition.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of myinvention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a m having my invention applied to bothends thereof,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged front elevation of a portion of Fig. 1 showing thepicker stick at the end of the picking stroke on the single box end ofthe loom,

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 3, Fig. 2,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section on line 44 of Fig. 2,

Fig. 5 is a detailed end elevation looking in the direction of arrow 5,Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged front elevation of the left hand portion of theloom having my invention adapted for use with shifting shuttle boxes andshowing the picker stick in the positions it occupies during a shuttlechecking operation,

Fig. 7 is an end view looking in the direction of arrow 1, Fig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the part of the structure shown in Fig. 6 andlooking in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. '7,

Fig. 9 is a detailed horizontal section on line wardly and forwardly inthe loom frame by a well-known mechanism not shown. The layis supportedby and swings arounda rocker shaft II in the bottom of the loom frame.The right hand end of shaft II is provided with a rocker foot l2 towhich a picker stick I3 is pivoted at M. The upper end of the pickerstick carries a picker l5 for cooperation with the shuttle S in thesingle shuttle box I 6 carried by the right hand end of the lay. A sheetmetal brace I"! has its upper end secured to the lay as at l8 while itslower end is connected as at I9 to the,

rocker foot It. The picker stick [3 is normally in its right handposition as viewed in Fig. 1 but is moved to the left to have a pickingstroke by a sweep stick 20 which is given an inward motion by mechanismnot shown on alternate beats of the loom when the lay has reachedapproximately its mid position while moving rearwardly from front toback center.

The pivotal connection l4 comprises a stud 2| held in any approvedmanner in a longitudinally adjusted position along a slot 22 formed inthe foot I2, and the vertical position of the sweep stick 2!) withrespect to the picker stick may be varied by a holder 23 held to thestick by a screw 24 for locating the lug strap 25 at different distancesfrom. the pivot 14. The stroke of the picker stick and also: the powerwhich it delivers to the shuttle can therefore be adjusted as needed.The shuttle box is provided with the: usual binder 26 pivoted to the layat 2'! and having a binder spring 28.

At the left end of the loomthe vpiolzingmechanism is similar to thatlocated at the plainend a the shaft ll having a rocker foot SBt-to-carry;a:. pivot 3| adjustable horizontally in. the foot and on whichthe lower end of the picker stick 32 is mounted. A sweep stick 33andlug'strap 34 are adjustable vertically along the picker stick by theholder 35 to permit adjustment of the picking stroke.

' Theleft end of; the layis provided with outer. aiidinnerguides 31' and38' for a vertically shifting gang G'of. shuttle boxes having in thepresent instance upper and lower cells flfiand il, respectively, for theaccommodation of two. weaving shuttles. The' vertical position ofthegang' isderived from a box lifter rodv e2 actuated by any approved.form of box lifting mechanism not shown. A vertically extending braceformed a of'sheet metal similar to the brace I? has its upperend.secured to the outer or left end. of the lay as at 46' while its lowerendis attached as'at 41 to the rocker foot 30. Each of'the cells 40' and(ii at the left hand side of the loom is provided with a binder 49.whichis urged, towardche'ckihg position by a binder spring 50..

During. loom operation the picker sticks |3.and 32 aregiven pickingstrokes on alternate beats of the loom, a shuttle being picked from theplain.

box towardthe shifting boxes on one beat of the loom anda shuttle beingpicked back to the plain box from the gang G on the next beat of theloom. The usual return springs 48 move the.

sticks toward. outward position after the picking stroke is completed.The boxes forming the gang G may shift after receiving a shuttle fromthe. plain end, in which case there will be{ a change in operativerelationship between the The upper. end

picker 52. and the active shuttle. of. the picker stick 32 drives picker5.2 alonga picker spindle 53 secured. to the lay. behind the shiftingshuttle boxes. The inner end of the pickerwill ordinarily have a pocket54: which re ceives the outer. tip end T of the shuttle as theshuttlebox side. Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 5; I provide a support 55secured at 56 tothe brace 11' and. extend therethrough a bolt 51 the.

left end .of' which as viewed in Fig. 4 is provided The threads fitinto. a. collar 59. on the left of support55 and provided with screwthreads 58.

with'air'arcuate slot fifl'whichre'ceives a. clamp.- ing bolt 6| tappedinto the sup ort. By means of the slot and bolt 61 the angularposition'of the collar 59 can be adjusted with respect to the support 55to move the bolt 51 either to the left or right as viewed in Fig. 4,depending upon the direction in which the collar is turned.

Surrounding the bolt 5'! and engaging the right hand surface 63 of thesupport 55 as seen in. Fig. 4. is a. friction Washer- 65v which may bemade of leather, rubber, or other suitable material. A checking arm 66located beyond the washer 65 with reference to support 55 is securedtothe bolt 51', as by welding and extends upwardlyto have formed on thetop thereof a curved pickerxstickengaging shoe 61. Extending laterally"from: the: lower end of the check arm is a l 68 carrying an adjustablestop screw 69 for engagementwith the brace l1.

Setting; link. 111' is pivoted as at II to the check arm and has theleft end thereof provided with a slot' 12 in which slides a stud 13mounted on a sleever'l l held in. vertically adjusted position on.

1 and 6 to 9 andincludes asupportfillsecured to.

brace. 45' at 81;. Support 80. has a laterally ex.- tending arm 821through which. extends a.bolt.&3. the free. end of. which as. shown. inFig. 9 hasthreads .84; extending through a collar 8.5. The latter is.provided with av slot. 8.6. throughwhich. extends a clampingbolt. 81.tapped into the arm. 82,.and collar 85. can.be,adjusted angularly. withrespect to the. arm 82 for the purpose of effect to disk 65 oneside of,whichiisin close engagement with asurfac'e ill onlthedeftside ofarm, 82

as seen in Fig. 9.v The other. side oiithe. disken gages a checkingarmfll-weldedor otherwise fixed.

to the. bolt. 83. and extending; upwardly there-- from. v

Asettinggli'nkifi is pivotedas atsfi-to'thecheck. arm.92 andislslottedasat 9.1. to reeeive a. stud-.58 similar to stud 13 and verticallyadjustable: on: picker, stick, 32. The upper end of: the setting link.hasracurved surface 9.9 which is directed. upwardly andaway fromthepivotfififor engage.- ment with the. head. of a. sci'.e.w Hill. adjustable.toward and: from the surface 951 and. mounted on theslipportfifl'.

That part. of. the picker stick. check. located. at the. drop. box end.of." the. loom. which hasv already been described issimilarto .the.check. at therotherend; butreference to Fig. 10f suggests. the.-desirability 'ofpermitting the picker stick to ,move out wardly, or to.tlie,.left,.tov allow. the. picker. 52m. clear, the. shuttle. tipshouldv thev shuttle boxes; G- shift. 2

In order .to accomplish thislast named result I pivot a checking. shde.I55. on. checking arm. 92' as. at. I 0.6. and. provide it with.acurved.surface. for engagement. with the. picker. stick 32.The...checking.shoe. I.6.5.'has.a;-sma11 arm- I01 fromv which. a stud.maextends. through. a.-guide.-slot. IDS-formed in the checkharmraz- A.lateral extension. Iii-0. of. the check arm has pivoted-thereto at I IIthe lower end of a release lever M2 the. upper. end; of. which. carries.stud. ll 3- for--engagement with a release screw 'IM mounted onthe brace45 and adjustable toward and from the check arm 92. The lower end of armH2 is extended horizontally as at H5 and is pivoted at H6 to the outerend of a link H! which is located on that side of the check arm 92opposite the extension III! of the shoe I 65. The other or inner end oflink II! is pivoted on the stud I08 which extends through slot I59 fromcheck shoe I05.

When the parts are in position to start a checking stroke they will beas shown in Fig. 8 and a light tension spring I20 connecting the pivotsIII and I08 will lie below the pivot H6 to hold link I I1 against a stopI22 fixed on the check arm 92. Also the stud H3 will be spaced fromunlocking screw or abutment H4. In this way the spring I20 and the partsH5 and H1, together with the stop I22, constitute a yieldable lock whichholds the shoe I05 normally in its checking position. A locking hoo-kI25 carried by the support 45 is positioned for engagement with the studH3 when the check arm is returned to its checking position by the pickerstick as will be described hereinafter.

The checking operations are essentially the same at both ends of theloom, provision being made to unlock the checking shoe at the drop boxend. Assuming that the picker stick at the right hand end of the loom isin a position shown in Fig. 2 which it occupies at the end of a pickingstroke, the return spring 48 at the bottom of the stick will move thelatter to the right until the stick reaches the full line position shownin Fig. 1. During this return motion of the stick the stud 13 has arelative upward motion in slot 12 and the link turns around the pivot IIwithout causing any material angular motionof the checking arm 86 andalso moves the surface 16 to the left away from the surface ll of thebrace I'I.

When the stick reaches the full line position in Fig. 1 further motionof it will be arrested by the friction of the check, the return springnot being sufficiently strong to overcome this friction, and the stickwill remain in this position until the shuttle again enters the shuttlebox I6, at which time the stick will be pushed by the shuttle againstthe shoe 61 and the arm 66 will move to the right on a checking stroketo its outermost position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. During thischecking stroke the threads 58, being rigid with the check arm 66 willbe turned into the collar 59 the effect of which is to draw the checkarm 66 against the friction Washer 65 to develop an increasingfrictional resistance to motion of the picker stick and shuttle. Theamount of this resistance can be varied by changing the position of thecollar 59 as already described. The picker stick will come to rest whenassuming the dotted line position of Fig. 1 and the check arm 66 will bein its outermost position. At the end of the checking stroke the surfaceI6 on the link 10 will be near or in actual engagement with the braceII.

When the shuttle is to be picked to the left the picker stick will movefrom the dotted toward the full line position of Fig. 1 and ultimatelyreach the position shown in Fig. 2 to complete the picking stroke.During this inward swing of the picker stick the stud I3 will rock linkI0 in a right hand direction around pivot H the effect of which is toslide the short upper end of link I0 downwardly along the brace I! andcause angular motion "ofthe checking arm 66 to the left to relieve thefriction by turning'the threads 58 in such a direction as will feed thebolt 51 to the right as viewed in Fig. 4. At the end of the pickingstroke the stop screw 69 engages the brace I! to determine the finalstopping position of the check arm. The arm 66 is thus returned tochecking position in readiness for another operation. I prefer to stopthe motion of the check armwith the screw 69, although the picker stickmoving through a fixed rangeof action will'cause the stud I3 to raisethe lower. end of link I0 to. substantially the same position on eachpicking stroke and thisaction may if desired be relied upon to place thechecking arm.

..When the :check at the drop box end of. the loom is vinlcheckingposition shown at the left of Fig. I the spring lock holds the shoe I05in extended or inmost po'sitionas shown in Fig. 8. When the picker stickreturns to the full line positicn'in Figffi it willengage' the shoe I05and be held in such position awaiting the ar-' rival of the shuttle-When the shuttle is boxed it acts through the picker 52 to move thestick to the left the effect of which is to cause the check arm 92 tohave a checking stroke and move from the position shown in Fig. 1 to theposition shown in Fig. 6. This motion of check arm 92 turns the threads84 in collar 85 to cause increasing frictional resistance on the part ofwasher to motion of the picker stick and shuttle.

The collar 35 will be set so that substantially all of the motion of theshuttle and picker stick will havebeen absorbed by the time stud H3reaches the position shown in Fig. 6 and strikes the unlocking screw H4and the remaining mo-' tion yet to be arrested will be sufficient tocause rocking of arm H2 relatively to the check arm 92 in a left handdirection as viewed in Fig. 8, thereby moving the link I I1 away fromthe stop I22 and causing the pivot H6 to move to the opposite side ofthe axis of spring I20, whereupon the latter will move the parts to theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 6 to relieve the shoe I05 anddraw the latter to retracted position. This last action will leave theshoe I05 substantially in the dotted line position shown in Fig. 6 torelease the picker from the resisting mechanism by unlocking the lockand permit the picker stick to move outwardly a slight distance so thatif the shuttle boxes shift the picker can move away from the shuttlepoint without being damaged. It is to be understood that the releasingof the check shoe I05 does not require further turning of the check arm92 and the unlockin .can beeifected by the expenditure of a small amountof residual energyin the picker stick.

- When the shoe I05 is unlocked the stud I I3 has a right hand motion asviewed in Fig. 6 toward the resetting hook I25 which is fastened to thebrace '45. When the picker stick next has a picking stroke the link 95will have its lower end raised by a counter-clockwise rotation aroundaxis 96 to force the surface 99 against the stop screw I00, therebymoving the check arm 92 inwardly or toward the right, see Fig. 6. Sincethe locking mechanism is mounted on and moves with the check arm 92 thestud H3 will eventually engage the resetting hook I25 and return thelock and the shoe I05 from the dotted unlocked position to the extendedor checking position shown in full lines in Fig. 6. As the picker stickconsupport member and having a checking stroke caused by the pickerstick when the latter has a return stroke, a shoe mounted on thechecking arm for engagement with the picker stick to cause movement ofthe checking arm by the picker stick, means to lock the shoe withrespect to the checking arm during the first part of a checking strokeof the checking arm, release mechanism operated by a force derived fromthe picker stick and transmitted through the shoe to move the lockingmeans to unlocking position as the checking arm nears the end of thechecking stroke thereof, the shoe and picker stick and picker beingmovable relatively to the checking arm when the lock is unlocked topermit the picker to move away from the shuttle.

7. In a loom having a shuttle the point of which enters a picker andtends to move the picker when the shuttle shifts laterally with respectto the picker, a picker stick which moves with the picker and haspicking and return strokes, the loom having also a lay and a supportmember thereon, a checking arm having a checking stroke of given range,a picker stick engaging shoe movably mounted with respect to thechecking arm, a lock to hold the shoe normally in fixed position withrespect to the checking arm during the greater part of a checking strokeof said checking arm, means fixed with respect to the lay and dependentupon movement of the shoe by a force derived from the picker stick tounlock said lock for the shoe, the latter thereafter being movablerelatively to the checking arm after the latter has reached the end ofsaid given range to permit the stick and picker to move relatively tothe checking arm when the shuttle shifts laterally and tends to move thepicker.

8. In a loom having a picker stick operating with a picking strokefollowed by a return stroke, a checking member to be connected to thepicker stick to resist motion of the latter on a return stroke thereof,means to resist motion of the checking member, a lock between thechecking member and the resisting means, means operated by the pickerstick when the latter has a picking stroke to move the lock to aposition to cause the checking member to move with the resisting means,and mechanism operated by a force derived from the picker stick when thelatter has a return stroke to move the lock to a position to disconnectsaid checking member from the resisting means.

ALBERT CEDERLUND.

